Apparatus for conditioning shoe filler compositions



R. A. SPENCE 3,046,579

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING SHOE FILLER COMPOSITIONS July 31, 1962 o F I,

3,046,579 Patented July 31, 1962 3 046,579 APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING SHOE FILLER COMPO1TIONS Robert A. Spence, Lincoln, Mass, assignor to North American Chemical Company, Cambridge, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Apr. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 25,668 4 Claims. (Cl. 12-18.2)

This invention relates to an apparatus for conditioning shoe filler compositions, which are susceptible to softening by heat and moisture, for application to shoe bottom cavities, in the manufacture of shoes.

In the art of making welt shoes it has long been necessary (and still is) to fill the cavity defined by the welt, between the inner sole and outer sole, with a suitable solid material. For this purpose many shoe filler compositions have been prepared. Of these, the most commonly used generally comprise a granular body material, such as ground cork, which is bonded together by a binder, composed of fusible resinous materials and water sensitive components, which softens or melts at or about the boiling temperature of water. These compositions are heated to the softening point and then applied to the shoe cavity, formed by the welt on the inner sole, which is usually already tacked or otherwise *afiixed to a wooden last.

The th-us deposited shoe filler composition is spread therein and the surface of it is smothed oif, usually with a flat knife blade or spatula. The inner sole and upper are then joined to each other and to the outer sole, by stitching or the like, in the customary ways.

The softening and conditioning of such filler compositions has usually been effected by applying various sources of heat from below and adding steam or hot water, or both, to the composition, from above.

But such procedures and the equipment for carrying them out have been subject to wide variations and have altered the composition of the charge of shoe filler being prepared and used. They have presented further difliculties, resulting from the fact that when the operation is discontinued for any length of time the whole charge of shoe tiller composition cools and solidifies into a hard and more or less heat resistant, non-heat-conductive mass, which is continuous and solid.

In consequence of these difliculties, the charge is likely to acquire too much liquid, so that it segregates, or too little liquid, so that it becomes firm and hard to spread. And the charge as a whole, when it has cooled and solidified over night, for example, presents the troublesome and time-consuming problem of re-softening it to a uniform spreadable consistency.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these variations in the composition and conditions of the charge of softened shoe filler and also the difiiculties encountered with the hardening of the charge between the daily shoe filling operations. 7

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following disclosure.

In accordance with the present invention, it has been discoveredthat if solid lumps of such shoe bottom filler compositions, as they are usually supplied by the manufacturers, are formed into a loose, open charge, which is fed downwardly, by gravity, separate from but in heatconductive relationship to a concurrent or counter-current steam of heated water vapor or steam, and a stream of heated water vapor steam is also directed into the loose, open charge of solid lumps, at about the middle or lower portion thereof, a progressive conditioning of the descending charge is effected, so that a continuous supply of uniformly softened and suitably conditioned shoe filler composition may be produced and removed from the bottom portion of the charge, as needed, for continuous operations of filling into the bottom cavities of shoes, in the customary manner.

By such operations, the hot water vapor or steamwhich need not be and preferably is not under appreciable super-atmospheric pressure, if anytransmits heat to the upper, descending portions of the charge and also, by entering the loose, open mass of unm'elted solid lumps of the filler composition, imparts its heat thereto and also its moisture, by condensation thereon. It also serves to keep these lumps and the fresher lumps above them separated from each other to promote the free penetration and escape, at the top of the charge, of any excess of uncondensed water vapor or steam, as well as of the entrained atmospheric air between them.

By directing a stream of heated water vapor or steam upon the top surface of the freshly charged, loose lumps of solid filler composition, these lumps may be made superficially sticky, so that they will lightly adhere to each other. This effect keeps the lumps in the upper portion of the charge, from slipping and slumping together, thus closing the open spaces between them too soon. This permits the continuous introduction, penetration and escape of the stream of water vapor through the upper portion of the loose, open charge, as above described. It furthermore preserves these loose, open-spaced conditions during continued conditioning and softening opera- 'tions, as the lumps gradually soften and settle down wardly.

In the lower portion of the descending charge, below the point of introduction of the heated water vapor or steam, the lumps soften still more and flow together to form, a continuous, fluid or plastic mass. This part of the charge may, therefore, be withdrawn with a knife, spatula or similar tool, in such amounts and shapes as may be required for spreading into the cavity of the shoe bottom to be filled therewith.

In the lower portion of the charge, where the lumps of filler have both softened and coalesced into a continuous fluid or plastic mass, and the heated water vapor or steam and entrained have escaped therefrom, upwardly, through the open passageways between the fresh solid lumps of the charge and to the top surface of the charge, the thus softened filler may be further softened and conditioned, as required, by imparting supplementary heat, dry or moist, and also by directing the addition of water to its free surface in the form of a very fine spray or mist, thus affording an accurate control of its distribution, dispersion and amount. of water should be very slight, so as to avoid any excessive or localized additions or separations between orin the continuous supply of conditioned shoe filler composition.

To carry out the method of the invention, a shoe filler composition conditioner is provided, having a receiving chamber, into which solid cakes or lumps of the composition may be charged, and a delivery opening, near the bottom, from which the conditioned, softened, fluid or plastic composition may be conveniently withdrawn for application tothe shoe bottom cavity.

From the upper portion to the lower portion, preferably a-long the sides or back of the receiving chamber, is mounted a vapor chamber (or, preferably, a plurality of vapor chambers) which is characterized by being closed at the top and down along the sides generally and arranged in direct heat-conductive relationship to the filler composition in the receiving chamber, but having an opening at the lower end, directed downwardly and into the interior of the receiving chamber. The top and sides of the vapor chamber, or vapor chambers, are therefore Preferably, such additions apsaava A self-contained atmospheric steam or heated water vapor generator is provided, with a closed steam or vapor tube leading from the generator to and into the vapor chamber or each of the vapor chambers in the receiving chamber above described. Preferably each tube enters the vapor chamber near the top of the vapor chamber to deliver the steam or heated water vapor therein.

The steam or vapor generator will preferably have a constant supply of feed water and a suitable heating unit, and may also have thermostat-controlled means for regulating the rate or degree of heating and preventing overheating, in any event.

There is also further provided a vapor educt or vent tube, leading from the vapor chamber-preferably from the upper portionwhich may pass downwardly through the bottom opening in the vapor chamber and thence up wardly through the receiving chamber to a point above the upper surface of the fresh charge of lumps or cakes of the shoe filler composition, where it may deliver the heated water vapor or steam onto the top surface of the fresh charge of loose lumps or cakes therein. Alternatively, it may vent directly to the atmosphere.

Delivery of the softened and conditioned shoe filler composition may be effected simply by providing an opening in the lower portion or adjacent to the bottom of the receiving and conditioning chamber. Or, a pan may be provided to receive therefrom and to hold an appropriate amount of the conditioned filler composition, ready for use and application to the shoe. The delivery section and pan may be supplementarily heated and prefcrably maintained under regulated heating conditions, as by a thermostatically controlled heating means.

A fine jet or spray of water may also be provided near the outlet opening or pan, adapted to deliver and disperse finely divided particles of liquid water, in the form I of a mist, upon the conditioned filler composition as it emerges therefrom, under the direct control of the operator as to amount and distribution. This can be controlled so as to add o. large or small stream of water to the filler. If the filler or the pan is heated appreciably above the boiling point of water (e.g., to 240 F.) as by the electrical heaters, any excess of water which might be present will be heated, dissipated and even evaporated rapidly from the filler charge or from the pan.

The invention, in both the method and apparatus aspects of carrying it out and adapting it to the conditions and usages of the shoe bottom filling art, will be clear from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus, with the upper front wall and sliding panel of the receiving cham bcr removed so as to show the vapor chambers on the inside rear wall thereof;

FIG. 2 is a vertical, cross-sectional view of the apparatus, in the plane 2--2 of FIG. 1, as viewed from the left side of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an orthographic projection of the receiving chamber, as seen through the cross-sectional plane 3-3, as indicated in FIG. 1 and viewed from the right side of the apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a detail view, showing in plan the arrangement of the steam or heated water vapor generator and the float-valve controlled water feed line thereto and direct Water feedline to flush the same; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, detail view in cross-section, of the characteristic construction of helically-wound strip tubing, known and referred to as Greenfield tubing.

The equipment will usually require some sort of a base or pedestal 1 to hold the apparatus at a level convenient for the operator. The base or pedestal may have a device for raising or lowering it (not shown) but preferably will provide a horizontal top surface 2.

Upon the horizontal top surface 2, thus provided, is mounted, either permanently or removably, a generally rectangular enclosure, comprising a rear wall 3, two vertical side walls, 4 and 5, and a vertical front wall 6. 'It may also be enclosed at the bottom, as by a bottom wall 7, thus making of the whole an integral, vertical, rectangular enclosure unit for the whole apparatus.

The upper portions, 4 and 5, of the side walls 4 and 5which stand above and rearwardly of the forwardly projecting lower portions thereof, 4" and 5", respective ly, and hence rearwardly of the front wall 6 (which connects the front margins of the lower portions 4" and 5")have a vertical front wall 10, between and connectiug them, to form and enclose the vertical, rectangular receiving chamber 11, for the shoe filler composition. The upper portions 4' and 5, of the side walls 4 and 5, are also provided, in their front, vertical margins, with inwardly directed, opposed, vertical slots or grooves, 8 and 9. These slots or grooves are adapted to receive etween them, for vertical, frictional, sliding movement therein, a vertical panel 19, which serves as an adjustable closure of the lower portion of the receiving chamher 11, below the front wall 10.

Each or all of the walls, 4, 5, 4', 5', 4", 5", 6, 7 and it of the receiving chamber 11, as above described, may be made of single or double thickness. In the latter case, insulation may be inserted between the inner and outer sections of one or more of the walls, to reduce loss of heat to the atmosphere, as will be readily understood and applied, if needed or desired in any given instance of construction and use.

The shoe filler composition is not shown in the receiving chamber 11, since any such illustration would almost necessarily obscure the details and construction of the apparatus of the invention, and its presence may be readily visualized as being charged therein and fed downwardly, by gravity, therethrough.

The top of the receiving chamber 11 may be closed by a flat cover or lid 12, hinged to the top margin of the rear Wall, by a hinge 13, and rest upon the top of the upper side walls 4 and 5 and of the front Wall 10, as shown. A handle 14 may be provided for raising and lowering the cover as desired. The cover is a closure to prevent excessive escape of vapors from the filler mix even though it may not be an airtight seal. Accordingly, the space above the contents of the conditioning chamber 11 is retained at substantially atmospheric pressure.

On the horizontal top 2, of the base 1, or inside, on the bottom 7 of the container, as shown, may be conveniently positioned a self-contained generator of heated water vapor or steam, 15, comprising a horizontal, cylindrical boiler chamber 16, of suitable material, having flanges-17 at the rear end and 18 at the front end. The flange 17 is hermetically joined to a circular enclosure cap 20, through which may pass the feed water supply line 21 from the pressure line 27 and, for purposes of draining the vapor or steam generator, a blow down valve 23 venting through outlet pipe 22 (see FIG. 4). The water line 21 is also provided with a lead line 24, from the float valve gauge box or chamber 25, which is adapted to control the water level therein at a constant height and hence pressure, from the water supply line 27, through the operation of the valve 28, controlled by the float 26, in the usual way.

The front flange 18, on the boiler chamber 16, is adapted to receive and be hermetically sealed by a cylindrical plate 22 having one or more apertures 30 therethrough to receive the electrical resistant, tubular heater unit (or units) 31, mounted horizontally on a plug (or plugs) 32, for insertion through the aperture or apertures 3t and fastened and sealed to the plate 29 in any convenient way-as by screw-threading, luting or the like-not shown. The operation of the electrically resistant heating unit 31 may be controlled by a suitable thermostat 33, in the boiler chamber, and electrical switch connected to the electric supply line 34.

In the receiving chamber 11, for the loose lumps of solid shoe filler composition, there is provided an inner wall 35. This has an upper, vertical portion 36, parallel to and may be supported by the rear wall 3-, which comes down to approximately the middle or lower portion of the receiving chamber 13, where it is inclined forwardly and downwardly, in the section 37, and thence forwardly again and horizontally, in the area 33, forming the bottom of the receiving chamber ll, and at the forward end 39, it is bent upwardly in the area 40 to form an apron and thence overthe front wall 6, as above described, with the lip 41 projecting over the top of the front wall.

On the inside surface or surfaces of the receiving or conditioning chamber 11 is provided a vapor chamber, which is in direct, heat-conductive relationship to the charge of loose lumps or cakes of the shoe filler composition therein and extends downwardly to the middle or lower portion of the receiving and conditioning chamber 11. A single vapor chamber may be suificient, if of adequate size and surface area to impart and distribute the required amount of heat and moisture to the charge therein or passing therethrough.

However, a plurality of smaller vapor chambers is to be preferred, such as the vapor chambers 43, 43, 43, 43, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings. They. are severally characterized by being more or less pyramidal in shape, closed at the top 44, and with downwardly and outwardly flaring front wall 45 and side walls 46 and 47. They are attached to the walls of the receiving and conditioning chamber 11, in the construction, as illustrated, upon the inner surfaces formed by the inclined section 37 of the inner wall 35, in any convenient way, as by welding, bolts, screws or the like, not shown.

The side walls 46 and 47 of the vapor chambers 43, 43 may be perforated, as shown at 48, 48, but preferably closely adjacent to the rear wall section 37, to which they are attached, and with the upper margins of such perfora- Additional vapor chambers, similar to vapor cham-.

bers 43, may be provided and attached to the inner surfaces of the side walls 4 and 5 of the receiving chamber 11 or to the inner surface of the front wall 10. But for usual conditions and purposes the vapor chambers 43, 43, as shown in the drawings, have proven to be adequate.

Leading off from the boiler chamber 16, through the cap 29, at 50, is a heated water-vapor or steam tube 51, which is threadably connected thereto at 52 and at its farther end, .by a fitting 53, to a horizontal header 54, which is suitably mounted upon the under surface of the inclined section 37 of rear wall 35 of the receiving and conditioning chamber 11. From the header 54 an opening is provided through the section 37 into the upper part of each of the vapor chambers 43, 43, 43', 43, respectively, so as to supply heated water vapor or steam from the generator thereto, without appreciable super atmospheric pressure, if any.

In the middle or lower portion of each vapor chamber 43 is mounted the open end 55 of a tube 56 (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 5), the other end 57 of which passes into the upper portion of the chamber 11 and may be bent over and downwardly, as shown, toward or upon the top of the charge of loose lumps of the shoe filler composition therein (not shown). This tube may be mounted on the vertical back wall 36, in-any convenient way, as shown.

While any suitable tubing or device appropriate for the purpose may be used, it has been found to be exceedingly effective and eflicient if it is made (similar to the Well-known BX electrical cable, though without any insulating or other such solid material therein) as by twisting or coiling a thin, flexible strip of metal, such as aluminum, into a long, substantially enclosed cylinder. This is known as Greenfield tubing. By overlapping the g successive coils (see FIG. 5) of a thin strip of metal, bent into an S-shaped cross-section 57a, so that one longitudinal margin of the strip lies above and outside of the other (lower) longitudinal margin of the strip, in engagement therewith and yet spaced therefrom, an open, helical, spring-like structure is formed, as shown. Such coiling is preferably done loosely, or subsequently re-.

flected outwardly and away from the open slot or slit structure of the helical coil, which therefore constitutes a tubular lead line for the heated water vapor or steam, to vent the same, from the bottom to the top of the receiving chamber which is at substantially atmospheric pressure above the level of the filler composition, yet it is adapted also to release the water vapor and steam into the loose,v open charge of shoe filler composition, throughout its entire length.

Beneath the horizontal section or more especially the upwardly inclined front lip of the bottom area 39, apron 40 or lip 41, from the receiving chamber 11 (and on the lower portions of the side walls 4 and 5 or the forwardly projecting portions 4" and 5" of these walls, if desired) may be provided definitely controlled heating units, such as the electrical resistance elements 58,- with suitable insulationand fastened in position by screws 60 or the like, with lead lines to the electric supply line circuit, not shown, through thermostatic control units which are preferably located in or adjacent to the shoe filler composi tion contained in and in front of the opening 63 from the bottom of the receiving and conditioning chamber 11, beneath the panel 10. The height of this opening may be controlled by adjusting the height of the panel 10 accordingly, up or down, as above described.

While the apparatus, as thus described, aifords adequate provisions for the addition of heated water vapor or steam, and hence of heat and/or moisture, to the charge of the conditioned shoe filler composition, supplementary additions of moisture, if desired by the operator, may be effected by means of the tube or pipe 61, connected to the pressure water-supply line and leading to the front of the apparatus, where it may provide a fine jet or spray from the nozzle 62, manually controlled by a valve 64. a

The method of the invention is to first form a supply of molded cakes or variously sized and shaped lumps of solid shoe filler composition, which is susceptible to softening and conditioning by heat and moisture, into a loose, open charge of the same, and passing the same downwardly, by gravity, into heat-conductive relationship with a stream of heated water vapor or steam, whereby it is gradually heated and softened. A stream of heated water vapor or steam is also advantageously passed upwardly through the open charge of filler, lumps or cakes, thus further heating and softening the cakes but also tending to keep the charge open and loose and carrying entrained air, together with the water vapor or steam, to the top of the loose charge, where it escapes therefrom.

The lower part of the charge, separating from the water vapor, steam and entrained air, softens still further, melts, and coalesces into a more or less continuous fluid or plastic mass, which then becomes continuous in respect of such properties and accordingly in condition for withdrawal-in separable masses of any size, shape or Weight desired-ready for filling into the bottom cavities of shoes.

In carrying out the method of the invention with the apparatus illustrated and described above, the solid lumps of shoe filler composition may be loaded into the receiving chamber 11, to such height as desired or so as to fill the same.

Water is already contained in the boiler chamber 1.6, of the heated water vapor or steam generator 15, from the constant supply, float-valve chamber 25, preferably submerging the electric resistance unit 31 therein. The electric current is then turned on into the electrical resistance unit 31, which will automatically provide a continuous supply of heated water vapor or steam.

The heated water vapor or steam thus formed will pass into and through the tube 51 to the header 54 and thence into the top part of each of the vapor chambers 43, 43, without appreciable pressure, if any, but at approximately the boiling point of water. The heated water vapor or steam thus filis and passes downwardly through the vapor chambers, heating them and transmitting its heat through their thin, heat-conductive walls to the charge of filler composition lumps or cakes in the receiving chamber 11. The vapor stream will escape through the open bottoms of the vapor chambers 43, 43, and other perforations or openings 48, therein, and also through the vent tube 56 and helical openings 57b, therein, or at the end 57, into the loose, open charge of filler and thence distribute itself therethrough, passing upwardly and carrying with it both the entrained air therein and the previously supplied heated water vapor or steam, to the top of the charge, where it escapes into the top of the receiving chamber 11 (if the cover is closed) or into the atmosphere, without detriment.

As the water vapor or steam, in thus giving up its heat of vaporization to the filler in the charge, condenses, its volume is reduced and the gases separate from the softening lumps of the filler, which are then permitted to come together. Thus, the lumps of filler coalesce, beneath the entrance of the water vapor or steam and the elimination of the entrained air, to form a fluid or plastic and substantially continuous mass of soft, conditioned filler composition, in the lower part and bottom of the receiving chamber 11. This mass gradually flows forward through the opening 63, beneath the front panel 10, into the area 38 and up against the inclined front or apron 40. Here it presents a free, open mass, accessible to the operator for withdrawal and use, in such amounts and at such a rate as may be required for filling into the bottom cavities of shoes, in the usual way.

If more heat is required at this point, one or more of the electrical resistance units 53 may be adjusted and set, accordingly, as for higher melting shoe filler compositions, and put into operation.

If more moisture is for any reason desirable or necessary it may be provided and applied, at the discretion of the operator, to the free surface of the conditioned shoe filler composition, from the fine Water jet 62, above described, by manual operation of the valve 64 and dispersed so that no local segregation or occlusions of liquid water thereon or therein shall be formed, as sometimes happened in the prior art.

The shoe filler composition, as thus conditioned, is ready for convenient removal from any part of the area 4!) and for immediate application to and into the shoe bottom cavity of the shoe to be filled therewith, in such amounts as desired and continuously throughout the days operations. At night, when the apparatus is shut down, the charge will cool and solidify. In the morning, or whenever it is desired to resume operations, the water vapor or steam generator can be started in the usual way and the steam or water vapor therefrom will pass into the several vapor chambers 43, 43. This will heat up the charge of solidified filler in the receiving chamber 15.,

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but without any excess, of water vapor or steam or any appreciable pressure-and no accumulation or build-up of pressure-for the steam or heated water vapor is at all times free to pass from the chambers 43, 43, into the Greenfield tubing 56 and thence out into the loose charge of filler or through its open end 57, at the top.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for the continuous conditioning of shoe bottom filler compositions which are susceptible to softening by heat and moisture, comprising a conditioning chamber having an inlet for receiving a charge of nonconditioned shoe bottom filler composition and an outlet for discharging the same in conditioned form, means for generating a supply of steam vapor, at least one steam vapor chamber located within said conditioning chamber and interconnected with the supply of steam vapor for distributing the same in heat conductive relationship through the entire Charge of said filler composition, and vent means disposed within said conditioning chamber and interconnected with said steam vapor chamber to provide communication with atmospheric pressure.

2. Apparatus for the continuous conditioning of shoe bottom filler compositions which are susceptible to softening by heat and moisture, comprising a non-restricted conditioning chamber having an inlet located in the top portion thereof for receiving a charge of non-conditioned shoe bottom filler composition and a bottom outlet for discharging the same in conditioned form, means for generating a supply of steam vapor, at least one steam vapor chamber disposed within said conditioning chamher and interconnected with the supply of steam vapor for distributing a stream of steam vapor in heat conductive relationship upwardly through said charge, and vent means having a lower inlet interconnected with said vapor chamber and an upper outlet directly vented to the top portion of said conditioning chamber above said charge.

3. Apparatus for the continuous conditioning of shoe bottom filler compositions which are susceptible to softening by heat and moisture, as defined in claim 2, wherein said vent means comprises a tubular body located within said conditioning chamber which defines a steam vapor passageway extending upwardly through said charge, said tubular body having an inlet at one end interconnected with said vapor chamber and an outlet at the opposite end directly vented to the top portion of said conditioning chamber above said charge, and at least one distributing outlet formed intermediate the ends of said tubular body for discharging a supplemental stream of steam vapor into said conditioning chamber in the space occupied by said charge of filler composition.

4. Apparatus for the continuous conditioning of shoe bottom filler compositions which are susceptible to softening by heat and moisture, as defined in claim 3, wherein said distributing outlet formed in said tubular body delines a downwardly directed discharge opening extending continuously in a helical direction upwardly from said vapor chamber to the top of said conditioning chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 957,393 Thoma May 10, 1910 1,512,229 Maxwell Oct. 21, 1924 1,512,230 Maxwell Oct. 21, 1924 1,523,701 Maxwell Jan. 20, 1925 1,558,699 Maxwell Oct. 27, 1925 1,928,290 Jennings Sept. 26, 1933 2,465,417 Bagshaw et a1. Mar. 29, 1949 

